Holding back

Am I holding myself back? Why? Ultimately, this is about… what do I fear? What do I think will go wrong or backfire?

If we don’t want to get hurt, common sense is a good first filter to apply. However, it’s debatable if it’s the right thing to use when we want to take a leap. Because when we are holding back, we are withholding possibility. Potential is blocked.

Here is something to try. Take an action you have to do anyway. Drawing. Chatting with someone. A house chore. Playing an instrument. Petting your cat. Dancing. First, do it while holding back. Then do it without holding back. Reflect what changed, what was different. You might notice that it’s not just the output. It’s also how it felt doing it.

Fear is what keeps us here. If we want to be somewhere else, we might just have to stop holding back.